Improvement in hose-bridges



Awith projecting pointed feet.

'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN E. MCGAULLAY, OP PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA. i

IMPROVEMENT INV HOSE-BRIDG ES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 136,745, dated March 11, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

' to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as `Will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawing which forms part of this speciiication.

The drawing is a perspective representation of my invention.

My invention has for its object to provide means for protecting engine-hoseV from injury by cars and other vehicles. It consists in providing a bridge which, when a iire occurs, is erected in the street over the car-tracks, snpporting the hose and permitting passing vehicles to go under it.

The bridge-is designed to be portable, and for this purpose is generally made in sections, so that it can be packed in small compass and readily carried on the engine or truck.

Referring to the drawing, A A are sections of a bridge, consisting of uprights provided These uprights are provided with forked devices b at the top to form a rest for the hose and with braces a a. These braces may be made a part of the uprights, or rigidly attached thereto, or. they may be jointed or so arranged that they can be extended according to emergency. The

braces meet at the point a where the hose rests, a fork, b2, being provided for that purpose. If desirable, the feet or ground braces d may be hinged on the upright, so as to be adapted readily to uneven surfaces.

Y This bridge is carried by the engine or truck. On arriving at a re it is erected over the track and the hose placed in the forks before turning on the water. When raised the braces are brought together and locked, (orthey may be locked before raising,) the hose resting in the forks; the water is then turnedon. It may sometimesbe necessary to raise the bridge after `Water has been already started, and a full hose will accordingly have to be raised. This may, of course, be done; but I prefer always to raise the empty hose, and after, it has been brought into position to turn on the water.

What I claim is- Y l. The hose-bridge, composed of the upright sections A and braces a holding the forked devices b b2, substantiallyas and for the purpose specified. "Y

2. The uprights A, having hinged or stationary feet or base supports, aid provided with the hose-holders b, substantially as and for the purpose specified. i

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my lia-ndi l JOHN E. MCQAULLAY.

Witnesses:

GEO. C. SEELMERDINE, M. DANL. CoNNoLLY. 

